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2011 NFL Power Rankings from Around the Web: Week 13

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"Hey! HEY GUYS! Remember when we used to be good?"
"Hey! HEY GUYS! Remember when we used to be good?"

Everyone have a good Thanksgiving holiday last week? All rested up and fattened? Excellent. It's likely that none of you noticed I didn't do my usual Power Rankings from Around the Web post last week. My in-laws were visiting us so I was a bit preoccupied, not to mention you all were preoccupied and wouldn't have seen it anyway.

So, 2011 is turning into a hell of a season for our beloved Chargers, isn't it? I couldn't tell you the last time the Chargers played this poorly and were ranked this low. Maybe 2003? 2005? We sure got used to being a top-12 team and perennial playoff contenders. The Chargers continue their tumble down the rankings, while the Raiders and Broncos are climbing. Who saw that coming?

In fact, it's that very question that led me to crunch the numbers and come up with a new chart: Most Surprising and Disappointing Teams. I took the Subjective Averages from Week 1 for all 32 teams and compared their Subjective Averages this week to see which teams are performing better and worse than they were expected leading into this season. You can find that chart after the jump.

In the meantime, let's take a look at some notable quotes this week and also how the various divisions stack up.

Notable Quotes

Fox Sports

So I picked the Chargers to win the Super Bowl. I was wrong.

Sports Illustrated

Under the heading of stuff you just can't make up, I'm sure there are a thousand lines that flood to mind when you think of the sideline bathroom break taken by Chargers kicker Nick Novak and the state of San Diego's down-the-toilet season, but I'm going to take the high road and resist them all. Or most of them.

ProFootballTalk

  1. Cardinals (No. 26; 4-7): This team may not be as far away from contending as it appears.
  2. Chiefs (No. 22; 4-7): This team may not be as far away from contending as it appears.
  3. Chargers (No. 23; 4-7): This team may not be as far away from contending as it appears.
  4. Dolphins (No. 24; 3-8): This team may not be as far away from contending as it appears.

Division Averages

Division Avg Ranking
AFC North 11.7353
NFC North 12.8235
AFC East 15.1176
NFC South 15.7059
NFC East 16.6324
AFC West 18.5588
AFC South 20.3824
NFC West 21.0441

Surprises

Like outlined above, this chart compares the Subjective Averages of each team from Week 1 and this week. I then took the teams with the 5 biggest differences on each end of the spectrum.

Team Week 1 Average Week 13 Average Difference
SF 25.667 3.833 21.834
CIN 30.778 12.250 18.528
DEN 29.000 14.917 14.083
OAK 20.889 11.167 9.722
BUF 28.000 18.750 9.250

Disappointments

Team Week 1 Average Week 13 Average Difference
IND 11.778 32.000 -20.222
SDG 7.000 21.167 -14.167
STL 17.667 31.000 -13.333
PHI 6.222 18.583 -12.361
TB 12.333 21.083 -8.750

Subjective Average

Subjective
ESPN Fox CBS USA Today Sports Illustrated ProFootballTalk NFL.com SportingNews Pro Football Weekly National Football Post SB Nation Reddit Average Standard Deviation
Packers 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1.000 0.000
Ravens 2 3 2 3 3 2 3 3 2 3 3 3 2.667 0.471
49ers 3 4 3 4 4 6 4 5 3 4 4 2 3.833 0.986
Saints 4 6 6 5 2 5 2 6 5 5 2 4 4.333 1.491
Patriots 6 2 7 2 6 4 6 2 6 2 6 6 4.583 1.935
Steelers 5 5 5 6 5 3 5 4 4 6 5 5 4.833 0.799
Texans 7 7 4 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 6.750 0.829
Cowboys 8 9 9 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 13 8.583 1.382
Falcons 9 8 8 9 9 11 9 9 9 9 14 8 9.333 1.599
Bears 12 12 12 11 11 10 10 11 13 11 9 11 11.083 1.038
Raiders 10 10 10 13 10 9 12 10 12 13 13 12 11.167 1.404
Lions 11 11 13 10 12 12 14 12 14 10 10 10 11.583 1.441
Bengals 13 13 11 14 13 13 11 14 10 14 12 9 12.250 1.588
Giants 14 14 14 12 16 17 13 16 11 12 16 14 14.083 1.801
Broncos 16 15 15 15 14 14 15 13 16 15 15 16 14.917 0.862
Jets 15 16 16 16 15 15 16 15 15 16 11 15 15.083 1.320
Titans 17 17 17 17 17 16 17 17 17 17 17 17 16.917 0.276
Eagles 18 18 18 19 19 18 18 18 19 19 20 19 18.583 0.640
Bills 19 19 19 18 18 21 19 20 18 18 18 18 18.750 0.924
Buccaneers 20 23 21 21 21 20 22 21 24 21 19 20 21.083 1.320
Chargers 22 21 23 20 20 24 21 19 20 20 23 21 21.167 1.463
Seahawks 24 22 22 24 24 19 23 23 21 24 21 23 22.500 1.500
Dolphins 26 24 25 22 22 25 20 22 25 22 24 24 23.417 1.706
Redskins 23 20 26 25 23 28 26 28 22 25 27 25 24.833 2.339
Chiefs 21 28 20 29 26 23 24 26 27 29 25 22 25.000 2.916
Cardinals 25 26 28 26 25 22 25 27 23 26 28 26 25.583 1.706
Browns 27 30 24 23 27 26 28 30 26 23 22 27 26.083 2.532
Panthers 28 25 27 27 28 27 27 24 28 27 26 28 26.833 1.213
Jaguars 29 29 30 28 29 29 30 29 29 28 29 29 29.000 0.577
Vikings 30 27 29 30 30 30 29 25 30 30 30 30 29.167 1.518
Rams 31 31 31 31 31 31 31 31 31 31 31 31 31.000 0.000
Colts 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32.000 0.000

Observations:

  • I'm only echoing what others around here have said, but are we sure there isn't a third Harbaugh brother out there wanting to coach the Chargers?
  • A nice cluster of teams around 4th-place: 49ers, Saints, Patriots and Steelers all within one position of each other.

Subjective Standard Deviation

Subjective
ESPN Fox CBS USA Today Sports Illustrated ProFootballTalk NFL.com SportingNews Pro Football Weekly National Football Post SB Nation Reddit Average Standard Deviation
Rams 31 31 31 31 31 31 31 31 31 31 31 31 31.000 0.000
Packers 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1.000 0.000
Colts 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32.000 0.000
Titans 17 17 17 17 17 16 17 17 17 17 17 17 16.917 0.276
Ravens 2 3 2 3 3 2 3 3 2 3 3 3 2.667 0.471
Jaguars 29 29 30 28 29 29 30 29 29 28 29 29 29.000 0.577
Eagles 18 18 18 19 19 18 18 18 19 19 20 19 18.583 0.640
Steelers 5 5 5 6 5 3 5 4 4 6 5 5 4.833 0.799
Texans 7 7 4 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 6.750 0.829
Broncos 16 15 15 15 14 14 15 13 16 15 15 16 14.917 0.862
Bills 19 19 19 18 18 21 19 20 18 18 18 18 18.750 0.924
49ers 3 4 3 4 4 6 4 5 3 4 4 2 3.833 0.986
Bears 12 12 12 11 11 10 10 11 13 11 9 11 11.083 1.038
Panthers 28 25 27 27 28 27 27 24 28 27 26 28 26.833 1.213
Jets 15 16 16 16 15 15 16 15 15 16 11 15 15.083 1.320
Buccaneers 20 23 21 21 21 20 22 21 24 21 19 20 21.083 1.320
Cowboys 8 9 9 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 13 8.583 1.382
Raiders 10 10 10 13 10 9 12 10 12 13 13 12 11.167 1.404
Lions 11 11 13 10 12 12 14 12 14 10 10 10 11.583 1.441
Chargers 22 21 23 20 20 24 21 19 20 20 23 21 21.167 1.463
Saints 4 6 6 5 2 5 2 6 5 5 2 4 4.333 1.491
Seahawks 24 22 22 24 24 19 23 23 21 24 21 23 22.500 1.500
Vikings 30 27 29 30 30 30 29 25 30 30 30 30 29.167 1.518
Bengals 13 13 11 14 13 13 11 14 10 14 12 9 12.250 1.588
Falcons 9 8 8 9 9 11 9 9 9 9 14 8 9.333 1.599
Cardinals 25 26 28 26 25 22 25 27 23 26 28 26 25.583 1.706
Dolphins 26 24 25 22 22 25 20 22 25 22 24 24 23.417 1.706
Giants 14 14 14 12 16 17 13 16 11 12 16 14 14.083 1.801
Patriots 6 2 7 2 6 4 6 2 6 2 6 6 4.583 1.935
Redskins 23 20 26 25 23 28 26 28 22 25 27 25 24.833 2.339
Browns 27 30 24 23 27 26 28 30 26 23 22 27 26.083 2.532
Chiefs 21 28 20 29 26 23 24 26 27 29 25 22 25.000 2.916

Observations:

  • Rams, Colts and Packers unaniumous in their positioning at 31, 32 and 1 respectively.
  • Wow. Titans almost unaniumously number-17 across the board, except for PFT being the lone wolf putting them at 16th.

Objective Average

Objective
Football Outsiders Team Efficiency Team Rankings Sagarin BeatGraphs Average Standard Deviation
Packers 2 2 1 1 1 1.400 0.490
Texans 1 1 2 3 4 2.200 1.166
Steelers 4 3 3 9 6 5.000 2.280
Patriots 3 4 6 5 8 5.200 1.721
Ravens 7 10 4 4 2 5.400 2.800
Saints 10 5 7 6 3 6.200 2.315
49ers 8 13 5 2 5 6.600 3.720
Bears 6 11 8 8 10 8.600 1.744
Lions 11 9 9 7 12 9.600 1.744
Falcons 9 14 10 12 11 11.200 1.721
Cowboys 12 6 14 10 17 11.800 3.709
Jets 5 15 15 11 15 12.200 3.919
Raiders 17 12 12 15 9 13.000 2.757
Giants 15 8 17 19 7 13.200 4.833
Bengals 13 16 13 13 16 14.200 1.470
Titans 16 21 16 14 13 16.000 2.757
Broncos 19 23 11 16 14 16.600 4.128
Eagles 14 7 19 18 27 17.000 6.542
Dolphins 18 18 18 20 22 19.200 1.600
Bills 22 17 24 17 23 20.600 3.007
Chargers 24 19 23 22 18 21.200 2.315
Buccaneers 21 26 21 21 19 21.600 2.332
Seahawks 25 28 22 23 21 23.800 2.482
Jaguars 20 22 25 24 29 24.000 3.033
Browns 26 24 28 27 20 25.000 2.828
Redskins 27 20 26 25 30 25.600 3.262
Cardinals 30 30 20 26 26 26.400 3.666
Panthers 23 25 30 28 28 26.800 2.482
Vikings 28 29 29 29 25 28.000 1.549
Chiefs 29 31 27 30 24 28.200 2.482
Rams 31 27 31 31 32 30.400 1.744
Colts 32 32 32 32 31 31.800 0.400

Observations:

  • Despite being a solid 7th-ranking subjectively, the objective ranking systems have the Texans giving the Packers a run for their money; two sites even rank the Texans above the Pack.
  • Another cluster of teams around the 5th position, mostly involving the same teams as above.

Objective Standard Deviation

Objective
Football Outsiders Team Efficiency Team Rankings Sagarin BeatGraphs Average Standard Deviation
Colts 32 32 32 32 31 31.800 0.400
Packers 2 2 1 1 1 1.400 0.490
Texans 1 1 2 3 4 2.200 1.166
Bengals 13 16 13 13 16 14.200 1.470
Vikings 28 29 29 29 25 28.000 1.549
Dolphins 18 18 18 20 22 19.200 1.600
Falcons 9 14 10 12 11 11.200 1.721
Patriots 3 4 6 5 8 5.200 1.721
Bears 6 11 8 8 10 8.600 1.744
Lions 11 9 9 7 12 9.600 1.744
Rams 31 27 31 31 32 30.400 1.744
Steelers 4 3 3 9 6 5.000 2.280
Saints 10 5 7 6 3 6.200 2.315
Chargers 24 19 23 22 18 21.200 2.315
Buccaneers 21 26 21 21 19 21.600 2.332
Chiefs 29 31 27 30 24 28.200 2.482
Panthers 23 25 30 28 28 26.800 2.482
Seahawks 25 28 22 23 21 23.800 2.482
Raiders 17 12 12 15 9 13.000 2.757
Titans 16 21 16 14 13 16.000 2.757
Ravens 7 10 4 4 2 5.400 2.800
Browns 26 24 28 27 20 25.000 2.828
Bills 22 17 24 17 23 20.600 3.007
Jaguars 20 22 25 24 29 24.000 3.033
Redskins 27 20 26 25 30 25.600 3.262
Cardinals 30 30 20 26 26 26.400 3.666
Cowboys 12 6 14 10 17 11.800 3.709
49ers 8 13 5 2 5 6.600 3.720
Jets 5 15 15 11 15 12.200 3.919
Broncos 19 23 11 16 14 16.600 4.128
Giants 15 8 17 19 7 13.200 4.833
Eagles 14 7 19 18 27 17.000 6.542

Overall Average

Subj vs Obj
Subjective Average Objevtive Average Average Standard Deviation Standard Deviation
Packers 1.000 1.400 1.200 0.322 0.400
Ravens 2.667 5.400 4.033 2.004 2.733
Texans 6.750 2.200 4.475 2.277 -4.550
Patriots 4.583 5.200 4.892 1.895 0.617
Steelers 4.833 5.000 4.917 1.409 0.167
49ers 3.833 6.600 5.217 2.519 2.767
Saints 4.333 6.200 5.267 1.967 1.867
Bears 11.083 8.600 9.842 1.713 -2.483
Cowboys 8.583 11.800 10.192 2.747 3.217
Falcons 9.333 11.200 10.267 1.843 1.867
Lions 11.583 9.600 10.592 1.782 -1.983
Raiders 11.167 13.000 12.083 2.080 1.833
Bengals 12.250 14.200 13.225 1.790 1.950
Giants 14.083 13.200 13.642 3.053 -0.883
Jets 15.083 12.200 13.642 2.734 -2.883
Broncos 14.917 16.600 15.758 2.475 1.683
Titans 16.917 16.000 16.458 1.570 -0.917
Eagles 18.583 17.000 17.792 3.660 -1.583
Bills 18.750 20.600 19.675 1.993 1.850
Chargers 21.167 21.200 21.183 1.757 0.033
Dolphins 23.417 19.200 21.308 2.549 -4.217
Buccaneers 21.083 21.600 21.342 1.699 0.517
Seahawks 22.500 23.800 23.150 1.937 1.300
Redskins 24.833 25.600 25.217 2.667 0.767
Browns 26.083 25.000 25.542 2.669 -1.083
Cardinals 25.583 26.400 25.992 2.479 0.817
Jaguars 29.000 24.000 26.500 2.852 -5.000
Chiefs 25.000 28.200 26.600 3.152 3.200
Panthers 26.833 26.800 26.817 1.689 -0.033
Vikings 29.167 28.000 28.583 1.617 -1.167
Rams 31.000 30.400 30.700 0.984 -0.600
Colts 32.000 31.800 31.900 0.235 -0.200

Overall Standard Deviation

Subj vs Obj
Subjective Average Objevtive Average Average Standard Deviation Standard Deviation
Colts 32.000 31.800 31.900 0.235 -0.200
Packers 1.000 1.400 1.200 0.322 0.400
Rams 31.000 30.400 30.700 0.984 -0.600
Steelers 4.833 5.000 4.917 1.409 0.167
Titans 16.917 16.000 16.458 1.570 -0.917
Vikings 29.167 28.000 28.583 1.617 -1.167
Panthers 26.833 26.800 26.817 1.689 -0.033
Buccaneers 21.083 21.600 21.342 1.699 0.517
Bears 11.083 8.600 9.842 1.713 -2.483
Chargers 21.167 21.200 21.183 1.757 0.033
Lions 11.583 9.600 10.592 1.782 -1.983
Bengals 12.250 14.200 13.225 1.790 1.950
Falcons 9.333 11.200 10.267 1.843 1.867
Patriots 4.583 5.200 4.892 1.895 0.617
Seahawks 22.500 23.800 23.150 1.937 1.300
Saints 4.333 6.200 5.267 1.967 1.867
Bills 18.750 20.600 19.675 1.993 1.850
Ravens 2.667 5.400 4.033 2.004 2.733
Raiders 11.167 13.000 12.083 2.080 1.833
Texans 6.750 2.200 4.475 2.277 -4.550
Broncos 14.917 16.600 15.758 2.475 1.683
Cardinals 25.583 26.400 25.992 2.479 0.817
49ers 3.833 6.600 5.217 2.519 2.767
Dolphins 23.417 19.200 21.308 2.549 -4.217
Redskins 24.833 25.600 25.217 2.667 0.767
Browns 26.083 25.000 25.542 2.669 -1.083
Jets 15.083 12.200 13.642 2.734 -2.883
Cowboys 8.583 11.800 10.192 2.747 3.217
Jaguars 29.000 24.000 26.500 2.852 -5.000
Giants 14.083 13.200 13.642 3.053 -0.883
Chiefs 25.000 28.200 26.600 3.152 3.200
Eagles 18.583 17.000 17.792 3.660 -1.583

Observations:

  • Colts are definitely more bad than the Packers are good.

Difference in Averages

Subj vs Obj
Subjective Average Objevtive Average Average Standard Deviation Standard Deviation
Cowboys 8.583 11.800 10.192 2.747 3.217
Chiefs 25.000 28.200 26.600 3.152 3.200
49ers 3.833 6.600 5.217 2.519 2.767
Ravens 2.667 5.400 4.033 2.004 2.733
Bengals 12.250 14.200 13.225 1.790 1.950
Falcons 9.333 11.200 10.267 1.843 1.867
Saints 4.333 6.200 5.267 1.967 1.867
Bills 18.750 20.600 19.675 1.993 1.850
Raiders 11.167 13.000 12.083 2.080 1.833
Broncos 14.917 16.600 15.758 2.475 1.683
Seahawks 22.500 23.800 23.150 1.937 1.300
Cardinals 25.583 26.400 25.992 2.479 0.817
Redskins 24.833 25.600 25.217 2.667 0.767
Patriots 4.583 5.200 4.892 1.895 0.617
Buccaneers 21.083 21.600 21.342 1.699 0.517
Packers 1.000 1.400 1.200 0.322 0.400
Steelers 4.833 5.000 4.917 1.409 0.167
Chargers 21.167 21.200 21.183 1.757 0.033
Panthers 26.833 26.800 26.817 1.689 -0.033
Colts 32.000 31.800 31.900 0.235 -0.200
Rams 31.000 30.400 30.700 0.984 -0.600
Giants 14.083 13.200 13.642 3.053 -0.883
Titans 16.917 16.000 16.458 1.570 -0.917
Browns 26.083 25.000 25.542 2.669 -1.083
Vikings 29.167 28.000 28.583 1.617 -1.167
Eagles 18.583 17.000 17.792 3.660 -1.583
Lions 11.583 9.600 10.592 1.782 -1.983
Bears 11.083 8.600 9.842 1.713 -2.483
Jets 15.083 12.200 13.642 2.734 -2.883
Dolphins 23.417 19.200 21.308 2.549 -4.217
Texans 6.750 2.200 4.475 2.277 -4.550
Jaguars 29.000 24.000 26.500 2.852 -5.000

Observations:

  • Chargers, sadly, are now playing as badly as you think
  • Cowboys, Chiefs, 9ers and Ravens aren't playing as well as we'd like to think
  • Why does this seem to happen to the Chargers each week. Don't understimate the Jaguars, they're playing better than you think.
  • Even though they're on their 14th QB in a week, the Texans are still playing much better than you realize.

Sources